Combination step-ladder and ironing-board.



s'. L. BURRISS. COMBINATION STEP LADDER-AND IRONING BQARD.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 3. 1915- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

SAMUEL L. @uRFass S. L. BURRISS. TION STEP LADDER AND IRONING BOARD.

COMBI NA APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I915- Patented Au 10, 1915.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

constructed, and easily SAMUEL'L."BURRISS, OF SOUTHPORT, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER AND IRON IN G-BOA R,D.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. BURRI'ss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southport, in the county of Brunswick and State of North Carolina, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Step-Laddersand Ironing-Boards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw.- in s.

This invention relates to convertible articles, and particularly to a combination step ladder and ironing board.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a very strong, simple, cheaply operated device of this character, which, with the parts in one position, constitutes an ironing board.

A further object of my invention is to so construct this device that the ironing board itself, and Without any additional or eXtraneous devices, will form the supporting brace or leg for the step ladder and take the place of the ordinarysupporting legs which are usually formed of relatively weak material.

A further object of the invention is to providemeans for thoroughly bracing the construction when it is used as an ironing board so that it cannot collapse, and thoroughly bracing the construction when it is used as a step ladder to the same end.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the parts in either of their arranged positions.

Still another object of the invention isto so construct the parts that the article may be folded up into compact form and occupy no more space than an ordinary step ladder.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the article that at no time in the adjustment of the article to'either form a step ladder or an ironing board is it neces sary for the operator to lift the full weight of eitherpart.

' Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my combined step ladder and ironing board in its ladder supporting position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the article converted to an ironing board; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an under side plan view ofthe ironing board, the brace 16 and the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 3, 1915.

is preferably formed the other end of the pin is screw threaded and provided with a nut .at 15 and 15,

- Patented Aug. 10, 19-15. Serial No. 2 5,522.

members.

Referring to these drawings, itj will be seen that I have provided one element of, a step ladder, this element consisting of the side bars 2 having mounted therebetween the steps 3 and having at. its upper end the 'rearwardly projecting members 4 which are perforated adjacent their rear ends, as at 5, these members also acting to supportthe top step 6.

Detachably and pivotally mounted. between the rearwardly projecting members 4 which constitute supporting lugs or ears is the upper end of the ironing board7. This board 7, as illustrated in Fig. 1, constitutes the means for supporting the step ladder in an upwardly inclined position. The board 7, at is extremity, is formed with a transverse passage 8, and loosely extendin through this passage and projecting out beyond each edge of the ironing board is the bolt or' pin 9. This pin is sufliciently less' in diameter than the opening 8 as to permit the pin to be readily passed through the opening or be withdrawn therefrom. This pin is adapted to project throughthe perforations 5 in the members 4, and one end of the pin with an eye 10, While 11 or other removable fastening device. Mounted upon the side bars 2 of the ladder are the eyes 12 which are adapted to receive the projecting ends of the pin 9 when the device is to-be used as an ironing board, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will of course be understood that these eyes 12 are sufliciently the pin may be readily withdrawn from engagement therewith.

The ironing board is supported, when in a horizontalposition, by means of the member 13 which constitutes a brace when the device is used as a step ladder, as appears from Fig. '1.- This member 13 at its upper end is hinged to the under face ofv theboard 7 by means of the hinge 14, the upper face of the member 13 being beveled so that when used as a leg the beveled end will secure full contact with the under face of the ironing board; This leg or member 13 is notched, as

larger than the pin so that for engagement with a. brace 16. This brace 16 is adapted to be disposed in a longitudinally extending recess 17 formed on the under face of the board 7, the upper end of the brace 16 being hinged to the floor of the recess by means of the hinge 18. 7

When the brace 16 is folded against the board 7 it is entirely disposed within the recess 17, but when folded outward the upper beveled end of the brace bears against the floor of the recess while the lower beveled end engages in the notch and against the a shoulder formed at the lower end of the sponding ed relation thereto or in notch. Thus the leg or member 13 is braced from any collapse and the ironing board is also supported intermediate of its length by this brace 16. It is to be noted at this point that the lower end of the leg or member 13 is notched or recessed, as at 19.

For the purpose of additionally bracing the ironing board and also additionally supporting the middle thereof, and also for the purpose of bracing the ladder element from the board 7 when the latter is used to support the ladder, I provide the sectional braces 20, these sectional braces being disposed one on each side of the ironing board. Each brace comprises two members 21 and 22. The member 22 is pivoted to the corresponding bar 2, and the member 21 is pivoted to the member 22 so as to fold into parallel an extended relation, and is formed at its ends with a slot 23 which is disposed at an obtuse angle to the lower edge of the brace, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. Preferably the member 21 is formed with a notch 24. on its upper edge, while the member 22 is formed with a tongue as which engages in this notch when the sections 21 and 22 are moved into their extended position.

When the article is used as a step ladder the members 21 and 22 are extended and the slot 23 is engaged with the corresponding pin 25projecting out laterally from the corrego of the ironing board. And when the device is used as an ironing board the braces are also engaged with the pins25 and these braces then act to support the middle of the board, any downward pressure on the board being transmitted to the braces by reason of the slant given to the slot 23. Furthermore, the slant given to the slot 23 acts to lock the parts in engagement with the pins 25 and prevent accidental disengagement.

For the purpose of holding the braces 13 and 16 in a position folded against the board 7, 1 mount upon the inner face of the board 7 the retainer 26. This retainer has an angular form and is preferably pivoted upon a plate 27 attached to the inner face of the ironing board. YVhen this retainerv is turned into one position the projecting angular end thereof will engage the free end supporting a pail from of the member 13 and hold it closed, and when turned to another position it will permit the members 13 and 16 to swing into operative position. This retainer 26, by reason of its angular form, provides a hook for the step ladder. The angular end of the retainer also provides for easy manipulation.

lVhen the article is used as a step ladder the leg 13 is turned into a bracing position, that is, into a position between the downwardly and outwardly extending ironing board and the lower step of the ladder, the notched or recessed end of the brace engaging with this lower step in a manner illustrated in Fig. 1. This notched end prevents the member 13 from being readily disengaged from the lower step and thus prevents accidental displacement.

The normal position of the parts is with the member 13 pivotally connected to the members 1, and in this position the member 13 may be swung inward into parallel relation with the step ladder proper and may be held thereagainst by means of the hook 29 engaging the eye 28. i

The operation of my invention will be obvious from what has gone before. Normally the device is folded up like any other step ladder. When it is desired to use it as a step ladder it is unfolded in the same manner as an ordinary ladder, in which case the member 7 supports the ladder proper, the member 13 acting as a brace and being in locked engagement with the lower step of the ladder. The auxiliary brace 16 may also be turned down into position to engage the member 13 and additionally brace the ladder, or it may be left folded up and held by the retainer. The ladder is further braced by the braces 20 whose action has been previously described. Then it is desired to convert the step ladder into an ironing board the braces 20 are engaged with the pins Then the bolt or pin 9 is removed from the upper end of the member 7 and from engagement through the members 4, and the member 7 is turned to an approximately horizontal position with the member 13 acting as a leg and braced by the member 16. The pin or bolt 9 is again reinserted at this time through the screw eyes 12 and the device is set up as an ironing board.

Attention is particularly called to the fact Thus a greater efficiency is g structure is extremely simple.

The pin or bolt 9 is sufliciently smaller than the openings through which it passes as to be easily operated even by a child, and further at no time in the adjustment of the combination is it necessary for the operator to lift the full Weight of eitherpart. This is greatly advantageous in view of the fact that the lift. ing and adjusting of a convertible ironing board often requires more strength than a Weak woman or child can afford.

Attention is also called to the fact that the strength or resistance of the ironing board to strain is greatest when the ironing board is used to support the step ladder. The board is under compression and the fibers of the board for its entire length withstand the strain. In the horizontal position of the board the board has a bearing for its full width on the bolt or pin 9 and thus there is no liability of the inner bolt bending or of the Wood breaking. When the ironing board is used to support the step ladder it extends down its full length to the floor and rests directly thereon and is not held by ad ditional legs attached to the under side of the board.

Having I claim is:

1. A combination step ladder and ironing board comprising a ladder, an ironing board, means for interchangeably pivoting said board to the ladder either at its upper end or intermediate its ends, and a member hinged to the board acting as a leg to support the board in a horizontal position when the board is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the ladder, or acting as a brace for engagement with the lower end of the ladder when the upper end of the board is pivotally connected to the upper end of the ladder.

2. A combination step ladder and ironing board comprising a ladder, an ironing board,

thus described my invention, What means for interchangeably pivoting said when the board is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the ladder, and braces pivotally connected to the ladder and to the ironing board and permitting the ironing board to be turned from its horizontal position to a position at an acute angle to the ladder.

3. A combination step ladder and ironing board comprising a ladder, an ironing board, means for interchangeably pivoting said board to the ladder either at its upper end or intermediate its ends, a member hinged to the board acting as a leg to support the board in a horizontal position when the board is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the ladder and acting as a brace for engagement with the lower end of the ladder when the upper end of the board is pivotally engaged with the upper end of the ladder, a bracehinged to the inner face of the board and adapted to be turned into position to engage the said member when the member is disposed at an angle to the ironing board, and a retainer pivotally mounted upon the inner face of the board adjacent one end thereof, said retainer being angular and adapted in one position to engage over the brace and retain it in place and in another position to release the brace, said member providing a supporting hook upon the I inner face of the ironing board adjacent its upper end.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL L. BURRISS.

Witnesses:

W. H. PYKE, H. P. OI-IAGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G." 

